Umpiring

A National C badge umpire must display a basic grasp of game management skills, umpiring techniques and practical application of the rules to penalise obvious infringements. This is an ENTRY-LEVEL BADGE ONLY and testers should not expect a perfect display. To successfully pass the C Badge Practical Assessment, you must be rated as competent on all aspects of the assessable performance criteria.

Prerequisite 1: Rules of Netball Exam (70 % or higher) 
Prerequisite 2: Foundation Umpire

To be successful in achieving your ‘B’ badge, you must demonstrate sound game management to maintain control and player safety; umpiring techniques which enable recognition of infringements behind and ahead of play, and the beginnings of application of the advantage rule; more consistent recognition and finer understanding of minor and major infringements; and some ability to distinguish between fair contest and contact that interferes with play.  

To successfully pass the B Badge Practical Assessment, you must be rated as competent on all aspects of the assessable performance criteria.

Prerequisite 1: Rules of Netball Exam (80% or higher)
Prerequisite 2: Intermediate Umpire Course (coming soon)

The A Badge Umpiring Accreditation, the third step in the Netball Australia National Umpiring Development Framework.  

To be successful in obtaining your  ‘A’ badge you must demonstrate a detailed understanding and application of all aspects of game management. 

There is an expectation that positioning, vision and timing will be guided by play and informed by an understanding of the game context, which allows for a more refined application of advantage. 

Rule interpretations should demonstrate an understanding of the rule, an attention to detail and common sense in application. There should be a high level of consistency across both minor and major infringements, with only minor errors observed.

Regarding contact, this includes distinguishing between fair contest and contact that interferes and identifying and penalising causing contact and inevitable contact. 

Prerequisite 1: Rules of Netball Exam (90% of higher)
Prerequisite 2: Elite Umpire Course

The National AA badge is the final step in the Netball Australia Development Umpiring pathway.  

The AA badge is an elite umpiring qualification reserved for candidates who display the highest levels of technical proficiency, rule understanding and game management.

You must have a complete understanding of all aspects of game management which allows necessary procedures to be implemented promptly and professionally when they are required; good judgement and ‘game sense’ to ensure that the available actions are used at the right time and for the right purpose. 

Positioning, vision and timing work together to be in the best place at the right time, even when this is counter-intuitive.  You must be able to read the play to adapt to different paces, patterns, and styles of play with minimal disruption to time and decision-making. 

The Netball Australia umpire framework is a four-tier umpire accreditation progression inclusive of policies, assessment guidelines and criteria for updating accreditations.